Two new groups expected to lead a hip hop boom

The year 2011 for the Korean music industry is looking wide open for a variety of changes, especially with the first few months being dominated by girl group comebacks and debuts. While the ballad singers that took over the charts with their emotional vocals fit for the winter season prepare for their leave, a new hip hop boom is expected to lead a new trend in the industry this year right alongside the girl groups.

Gone are the sweet hook songs and auto-tune, as hip hop artists are gearing up for a comeback as we speak. The first two groups preparing for this hip hop renaissance are the brainchildren of hit composers Bang Shi Hyuk and Brave Brothers.

Bang Shi Hyuk is known for his ballad hits with artists such as 2AM and Lim Jung Hee, but will be taking an interesting twist by unveiling his own idol creation this year with a group named “Bulletproof Boy Scouts.“ The members are known for their exceptional talent in the underground hip hop scene and consists of high school rappers. The group went through a hip hop audition process called “Hit It” and are currently focusing on their debut preparations.

Hit making producer Brave Brothers is launching his own five member hip hop girl group named “Brave Girls.” The group is said to be specializing in a charismatic performance that will differentiate themselves from the other cutesy girl groups dominating the market. Their music will not be dance pop like usual, but true hip hop, as he claimed, “They’ll be a female hip hop team with something new to offer.”

The genre they’ll be specializing in is “blacktronica,” a fusion of “western hip hop and electronica, currently specialized by acts such as the Black Eyed Peas and Far East Movement.” For fans looking for an early glimpse of the genre, GD&TOP’s “High High” is categorized under the genre as well.